The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-04-28
Gin Mills and Rum Shops.
[Battleboro Headlight. ]


and philanthropic of the world and
their soldiers are mutinous, demon
! allied and deserving their service.
The cry OF sumptuary laws, the rights
of freedom and the blessings of whis
key will no longer rally their troops
to duty By tens and hundreds they
are learning that no good, no moral
advancement emanates from their dis
cipline or campaign tactics. They be-
hold with sorrow the discharged and
the deserter as he wanders away from
their ranks all dilapidated, forsaken
and penniless-as he approaches his
hungry children and broken-hearted
wife with one pound of meat and a
gallon of whiskey or is kept away in
the lookup for crime committed during
his BaChanalian revels. We remem
Der abolitionistS in the United States
could be counted on ones fingers; when
Wilberforce and Fox in England had
not a dozen followers, and the subject
was considerd almost ridiculous.
Years ago, Charles Sumner in Con-
gressional speech asserted that :'aglta-
ton henceforward shall be the watch
word, and we will raise and educate
generation that will break the chains
of the slave" That generation came
and that prophecy is a reality. Pro-
hibtionists are agitating with zeal and
energy the equal of which has rarely
been witnessed. In the bright sun
shine of the present age things are seen
in different light. Rum shops by
most people are viewed as an evil, a
curse to a community, and reasons
for their tolertion are fast disappearing
as footprints upon the sands. Even
now, and certainly IN the near future,
a chmpion for rum-mills will be Gu
riositv. What can he promise his
sympathisers? Hear him. Noah got
drunk, Paul recommended wine for
the stomach and Christ changed water
into wine. The inference is that Lot
indulged after the destruction Of
Sodom and Gomorrah, Judging by his
lewd conduct. Hence they conclude
it is one of the many blessings
+ vouchsafed to us by the Most High,
and they believe it is right, that there
should be no restrictions more than at
present put upon its manufacture and
sale. Here is the man of Straw, and
he is going to be knocked down.
The Republicans and Democrats will
do it. In the North, the West, the
East and the South, the brain and the
tongue are busy. Way down in the
Lone Star State, 81, 900 to SIS 900 sub
scription for campaign purposes has
been secured in a few minutes. Id
lots and children will get drunk. DO
we allow them free access to lntoXlca-
ting drinks? Why not? "Woe be
unto him that giveth his nelghbor
drink; that puttcth the bottle to his
mouth" etc. To be convinced, it is
only necessary to cipher out te"
mathematical demonstrations. Rum
must go because it is a fraud. 1t is
not value for hardly a considerable
part of the amount it represents
The effects of rum are SO appalling as
an evil and of such magnitude as tc
4 DEFY description. The innocent are
made to suffer, infants are put II
i jeopardy. No living mortal can boas
? of absolute freedom from the danger:
and pollutions of this monster. Reso
lutions to abstain and have nothing tt
do with it, are not safeguard. 1t
a fearful public evil and as such
y must be dealt with by an enlightened
public. Sellers are not to be expected
y 70 volunteer and abandon their lucra
II five vocation. Thousands OF then
under difernt circumstances will tioCI
to the prohibition standard and Jou
IS heartily in a crusade of respectabl
F. strength, to wipe out the whole thin
# from this continent They feel if tn
It traffic is to be tolerated by law, 1t
5. as legitimate for them as Others, lndlvld
te ually they can accomplish but little O
!. nothing IN keeping men sober. Man
,r of them who have other goods woul
ic much prefer and advise sots to bu
is with their money other articles OF ne
h cessity for their families. We have n
+, harsh words or choice lnvectlves
is hurl at the man who deals IN tn
G. LIQUID damnation, yet We are candl
r enough to own we have ever turne
ye with horror from a business SO treIGh
er ed with crime, degradation and mlser,
: In all directions we hear the war bugle
,k thrilling call to arms, the cannon
X boom falls on our quickened ears, til
ye steady tramp of serried columns
r infantry in their rush to the front pro
I'd claims that1he battle is raging IN iur
IfELegions of conflicting interests hol
We thousands against their better Jud:
rh ment. In a few more years victor
In will perch upon the prohibition bal
Ne ners. The writing is on the wall-Ru
cb has been weighed in the balances ar
ful found wanting. Men dread insanity
he they do a demon. And each d
III brings blood -curdling stories OF mu
al der, rape and arson each bearing on
lwings an eloquence more convlnc:I